...Tutorial Two... Digital Imaging

Digital Images are a popular form of imaging in today's world. The two main forms of digital imaging consist of digital photos and digital video. These may be captured in a number of different ways, for example the use of digital cameras will capture a digital image-being a photo. Video cameras may also be used to capture a photo, but are primarily used to record an event. Digital cameras will often have a function to be able to record a video, however this will often mean the video is shorter in length than using a video camera.
Once a digital image is captured there are multiple ways of storing it. Photos may then be stored in the memory card of the camera, on a computer, on an internet website designed for storing photo images, on an external hard drive, on a cd or in some cases a DVD. These photos can then be used in a variety of different ways. They can be uploaded onto websites, used in an online photo album, printed and used as regular photos, put into a digital photo frame, as well as many more. This is often the same with video clips. The use of youtube is evidence of the increase in the amount of videos everyday people are creating.
Something I have learned recently with digital imaging, is that it is very important to have several copies stored in various places as it is very easy to loose all your images in an instant with technology and the likes of viruses, and it costs a lot of money to have a technician try to retrieve your images and files.

So, here's a few digital images...

Uploaded from an external hard-drive...

Boddy and I and our tattoos :]

A video clip... from youtube...

This is a preview to the amazing movement of Watoto in Northern Uganda! Absolutely amazing event to witness! (Watotorecentnews, 2010).

So gunna try and link this post to a photo on facebook... let's see if it'll work...

New style

So if this link worked there should be a photo of me with my dreads...Nice and fresh and spikey!

It is said that "a new technology is rearly superior to an old one in every feature" this is a topic of debate and can be applied to digital cameras. In class we discussed the positives and negatives of a digital camera and they were as follows:
Positives of a digital camera:

• Able to take a lot more photos
• They have a lot more functions
• Are normally use friendly
• Very accessible to the larger population (when looking at the class almost everyone owns a digital camera)
• The images do not take up a lot of space due to them being in a digital foramt
• Is a fast process to print out an image, will often only take a matter of minutes to print

Negatives of a digital camera:

• Images are becoming less commonly printed in hard copy
• It is a lot easier to loose the images as there are no negatives
• Storing images in computers may also result in the loss of them if the computer gets a virus for example
• Skills are being lost in using digital cameras as there is no longer a need to learn the traditional process of developing film
• To access the photos there is often a need for other technology such as a computer and printers
• Images do not always have the same quality as an image generated with a film camera

Overall I think digital cameras are an amazing form of technology however it is important to make back-up copies of the images to be sure they are not lost in the event of the computer malfunctioning. I also think it's important to have an understanding of film images and to have an appreciation for the development and techniques used to create images.

The increase in capturing images, through both photos and videos raises a few ethical concerns. This is due to the fact the the image or video clip belongs to the person who captured it, this therefore means that the person has to have informed consent to be able to take the image in the first place. This is most commonly seen in schools or in organisations that have websites or brochures that they wish to have photos or videos of people on/in it and they need to obtain permission before doing so. This is also a privacy issue, as not all people will be willing to have their face and often name viewable to the public.
In practice it is also important to remember client confidentiality and if a therapist has images of a client in their file this would make them a lot easier to identify therefore it is very important to keep any images secure and in the correct place to eliminate any issues that may arise surrounding the client's privacy.

Images and videoing are already being used in occupational therapy in a number of ways. These include; using photos to observe the progress of therapy for an individual over time, using imaging for the likes of picture boards and daily activity planners for an individual, creating handouts that are specific to the individual by incorporating images of them within it. Also the use of videos and online videos with how to do things are used in OT practice. This can be seen in the types of youtube clips that will for example demonstrate the use of different equipment or various techniques to manage pain.

References:

Watotorecentnews. (2010, June 24). Watoto - Restore tour trailer [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl5BmPHvAao